System and method for interactive, computer-assisted object presentation

ABSTRACT

A system and method for interactive, computer-assisted object presentation in which object information is displayed in one more arrays. In some embodiments, object information is displayed in a two dimensional array wherein displayed object information can be selected by a user. In response to the selection, in some embodiments additional information is displayed about an object corresponding to the selected information. In some embodiments, the additional information includes one or more of a link to permit a user to buy the object (e.g., from an e-commerce web site) and a link to bid on the object (e.g., in an on-line auction). In some embodiments, at least a subset of the two arrays scrolls without user interaction. In some embodiments, object information is displayed in an first array from which a user can select multiple elements. In response to the selection, in some embodiments a second array is displayed with information about the multiple selected elements from the first array. In some embodiments, the information displayed in the second array includes status information about the selected elements, such as price changes.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/628,773 filed Jul. 29, 2000, which claims priority to ProvisionalU.S. Patent Application No. 60/146,702, filed Jul. 30, 1999, the fulldisclosure of which are incorporated herein in its entirety.

PRIORITY NOTICE

This Non-Provisional U.S. Patent Application claims the benefit of theJul. 30, 1999 filing date of Provisional U.S. Patent Application SerialNumber 60/146,702.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Contained herein is material that is subject to copyright protection.The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction ofthe patent disclosure by any person as it appears in the Patent andTrademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves allrights to the copyright whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel methods and apparatus forconducting, presenting, monitoring, and tracking auctions on-line, forpure Internet auctions, and real-time presentation of physical auctions.The methods and apparatus disclosed in this application can also be usein all on-line object and catalogue presentations and other E-commercesales and advertising channels and mechanisms.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Traditional physical auctions of goods and services take place as eventswith defined time periods, at defined and limited physical locationswhere the buyers, on-lookers, commissioned sellers, sellers, trainedauctioneers, and the goods gather. In some instances, with pre-arrangedfacility, remote buyers can be linked at real-time to the auction, viaprivate or public radio, television, or telephone network, and call-inbids remotely over telephone connections. The real-time broadcast ornarrowcast of an auction through radio, television, or telephonenetworks can be costly, and access is usually limited to specificlocations/rooms with the relays or connections. Therefore, theconventional physical auction events are considered restricted to alimited buyer audience who can either physically attend the auction atlocation, during that specific time frame, or be present at a remotelylinked facility also at that specific time frame. The costly, timespecific physical gathering of a “live” auction event is only worthwhileor feasible for both the auctioneer's and the buyers' sides, if, andonly if there is a large number of items to be sold. However, only oneitem can be “auctioned” at a time, in a physical live auction event.Thus, each item has a very limited time allotment to be on the auctionstage.

Some items stimulate more interest than others in an unpredictable wayin a time limited physical live auction event. The buyers come to, andleave the event also in somewhat of unpredictable ways, it is difficultfor a live auction event to publish and commit to a fixed item-by-itemschedule in a catalogue ahead of the event. Therefore, buyers do notknow what item would be auctioned at what time frame, and what itemswould be auctioned next even while at the auction. Buyers do travel tothe location; frequently to miss the items most interested, unless he orshe is willing to arrive on-time, and commit to sit through the entireauction event without breaks. Wealthy collectors or dealers often gothrough the preview, note the interested items manually, and giveinstructions as to the highest price they would be willing to pay foreach item to hired professional buyers/bidders to attend the event anddo the bidding. The process is manual, labor intensive, and somewhatrisky for both the hiring collectors and their hired buyers.

The new Internet “cyber” Auction format, on the other hand, allowsbuyers, sellers, and spectators to browse and search for information,descriptions, and auction status of goods, and submit bids withoutgeographical or strict time limitations. All items, independently, canbe “auctioned” during the same time period, in parallel, andsimultaneously. The duration for each “item” in “open auction” islargely defined by the owner of the item or his agent, and independentof other items. The duration is measured in days or weeks, rather thanthe minutes as custom and necessary in a physical live auction. Thebeginning and ending times of “open auctions” are published individuallyin each item's entry. Data entry is left to the owners of objects withtemplates provided by the sites. The sites has no organized data on whatobjects may become available for auction, and do not publish up-comingauctions.

At Ebay.Com (FIG. 1, Jul. 15, 1999), the largest Internet auction site,millions of objects are “auctioned” at any given time. Search for goodsis accomplished through browsing the extensive category trees/paths(FIG. 1A), or entering item type or name through a “search” function.The auction item list obtained through category browsing is astoundinglylarge, on the order of hundreds to thousands of items, over many tens ofweb-pages (each can be more than one physically printed page), listedwith abbreviated one-line entry or a thumbnail entry for each item.FIGS. 1B1 and 1B2 are 2 pages of a list of “Featured” furniture auctionitems, and FIG. 1B3 is the 1st page of 37 pages of 1761 furniture itemsbeing auctioned on the Ebay.Com site on Jul. 15, 1999. Note that theright most column indicates the “ending time” of the auctions, mostlyending around July 22 through July 25, a ten day auction time span,impossible to accommodate in conventional “live” auctions, which measureauction time for each item in minutes. Choosing items out of such alarge list can only be accomplished by reading through tens or hundredsof one-line abbreviated descriptions of each item, and choosing one itemfrom the list to view the more detailed information about the item,one-at -a-time. Once an item is thus chosen, the browser/buyer clicks onthe line or thumbnail entry of the item on the list (see FIG. 1B2, item122 on the page), and waits for its descriptions to be sent to thescreen from the remote site server (FIGS. 1C1 through 1C3.) If the buyerwishes to view more items from the list of hundreds of items, it canonly be done, again, one-at-a-time, by clicking “back” to the list, andchoose another item, click on the item, wait for page download, thusrepeating. When the buyer is viewing information about one interesteditem, the information for other items previously viewed are gone fromthe screen The buyer must print all information of every item, beforeclicking “back” to the list to access information of another item. Thecomparison between similar or interested items can only be reasonablydone by reading the volume of printout pages of these items. At the meantime, the auction status and current high-bid of some items may havealready changed. Although such process is tedious and time consuming,for many people, it is still preferred over making the effort requiredto attend a conventional physical “live” auction.

Bidding is entered electronically on a bidding screen that usuallyfollows the bidding information, object description, and photograph(s)of the object. For a single item auction, the bid entered at any giventime must “beat” the current highest bid to be relevant and logged intobidding history as the updated highest bid. For a “Dutch Auction;” wheremultiple numbers of an identical item are auctioned, the bid must behigher than the current lowest valid bid. Every “current highest bid” isthere to be outbid before the “auction time” is still open. It is highlydesirable to a serious buyer to monitor the bidding status, and bid onlywhen “closing” time comes near.

With the current state of the art in online auction, such monitoring isaccomplished through manually logging onto the site at any particulartime, go to the pages where a particular item of interest is described,look up the bidding status of that particular item, and the closing timeof this particular auction. Set an alarm clock for certain intervalsbefore its “closing time,” for final check, which could be days later.At any moment between the time you last manually checked the auctionstatus, and the time of the alarm, the auction status can only beupdated by manually and periodically logging on to the site, and goingto the particular pages describing the item, one item at a time. If thebuyer is interested in a number of items, the process is extremelytedious, time consuming, and unreliable. One can enter a bid, requestemail notification from the site when the bid is “outbid” by anotherbuyer. However, this is a one-time only notification. To be notifiedagain, one must enter another bid that beats the current highest bid,and risking buying the object at that price, or to be outbid again.

For a physical live auction event, there is no way to monitor the eventother than being physically present.

FIGS. 2A-2B are screen prints of Auction.Yahoo.Com, and FIGS. FIGS. 3Aand 3B are screen prints of AmazonAuction.Com, illustrating the twosites' identical formats to Ebay.Com. This universal Internet AuctionFormat is used with very minor variations on the theme in allstate-of-the-art auction sites. Basically, the home pages of the auctionsites contain a primary category listing, a “featured” listing, a“search” entry box, and some informational/promotional icons, textualdescriptions, and links. Clicking on a category title on the primarycategory list brings the next page containing the listing of the nextlevel of categories under that particular category, and a list of the“featured” items in that category. Clicking on one “featured” titlebrings information about that one particular “featured” item. Similarly,clicking on brief descriptions of promotional or informational entriesand icons brings more detailed information about the entry. Clicking ona subcategory brings the listing of the next level subcategories and the“featured” items in that subcategory, until the particular category pathis exhausted. Then, all items under that end category is listed overmany web pages, accessible one web-page at a time, each containing morethan one physical print page. Links to information of Items listed on aweb page are accessible also one-item-at a time. Entering a search wordor a search phrase brings a list of items that contain the word orphrase in the tagging header or in the description.

Although facilitated to provide simultaneous auctions, Internet formatof the known-art does not allow viewing, monitoring, or tracking ofsimultaneous auctions of multiple items. As described previously, abuyer can elect to visit the “biding” screen, enter a bid for eachinterested item, and request to have electronic-mail (email) sent tohis/her email account as a one-time notification when a bid is outbid.Or the buyer can periodically log-on to the auction site, and manuallysearch and browse for status information of interested items, one at atime.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel methods and apparatus forconducting, presenting, monitoring, and tracking auctions on-line, forpure Internet auctions, and for real-time internet presentation of livephysical auctions. The “current” auction objects are presented in movinggraphical arrays that can be sorted by columns or rows, commanded tomoved to show items beyond the screen, or stopped to select individualitems to obtain further information or to be monitored and tracked. The“up coming” objects that are soon to be “open” for bidding are shown ona separate strip on the screen. The strip “cycles” onto the screen toaccommodate displaying more objects, than the screen size canaccommodate. The moving strip can also be activated to step in theopposite direction, or stopped for detailed view, or selected formonitoring, tracking, or to obtain further information. The displayingand selection method and apparatus can also be used for other e-commercesales channels and catalogs.

Selected objects from different categories, or even different sites canbe monitored and tracked on the same screen.

Self-rotating, automated Virtual Reality is used to displaythree-dimensional objects. Split screen allows video broadcasting,narrow casting, or streaming of “live auction” events alongside detailedstill or virtual reality images of auctioned objects, theirdescriptions, and the bidding entry form, as well as the running stripcataloguing the upcoming lots/items.

The methods and apparatus disclosed in this application can also be usein other types of on-line object and catalogue displays, and otherE-commerce channels and services, in addition to the auction format.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A: Ebay.Com. Known-Art Auction Format Only ONE link (one item)-canbe clicked at any time on any page, as in all Internet web pages. FIG.1A also shows the home page, with its 1^(st) level categories listed onthe left side of the page, the “featured” items listed in the middle ofthe page, and the “search” box at top center of the page.

FIGS. 1B1 and 1B2 are one-line descriptions of “featured” items in theFurniture category.

FIG. 1B3 is the first of the 37 web-pages listings of 1,761 furnitureitems currently being auctioned on the site.

FIGS. 1C1 to 1C3 are detailed description and bidding status of item122, Super Turn of Century Oak Victorian Secretary, listed on FIG. 1B2.

FIG. 2A is the home page with the 1st level category listings where, forexample, “Antiques & Collectibles” is one of the several 1st levelcategory listings displayed.

FIG. 2B lists 5 featured items on top of the page, and a total of 16items in the “Living Room Set” category. The page is sent from the siteserver, when the “Living Room Set” category in “Furniture” categoryunder “Antiques & Collectibles” category is clicked. The hierarchy ofthe category levels is displayed above the 5 featured items on the page.

FIG. 3A is the home page, listing the 1st level categories on the leftside, and 6 “featured” items in the middle of the page.

FIG. 3B lists the second level categories under the “Antiques” category,and the “Featured Auctions” in the “Antiques” category.

FIGS. 4A-4D: An example of an On-Line Auction presentation implementedwith the current invention.

FIG. 4A shows the “featured”, and “search,” or “category” browsingresults are shown in a graphical array, with multiple-selectcapabilities. The “upcoming” auctions are announced in a cycling orstationary (scrolled to view) margin-strip at the right side. The“present” auctions are presented in rows.

Each row of the array can advance to left, back to right, continuallymove (GO button) to show more items, or stop, at command by clicking onthe commend buttons at the left margin of the row. The “upcoming” columnon the right has similar functions. The movement for the column isup-down movement.

In this particular presentation example, we have chosen 3 categories andthe “featured.” The same method and apparatus can present items of thesame category, or the subcategories within a category, for example,separating sports cars of different manufacturer.

FIG. 4B shows the screen shot of the Auction home-page screen at sometime later. Due to exercising the moving functions, some items havechanged positions on the array, some items have left the screen, andsome items not shown in 4A appear on the screen.

FIG. 4C shows the selected items from 4A and 4B appear on a monitoringscreen. The screen is automatically tracked/updated by synchronizingwith the server data at user programmable intervals. Object that shouldbe seen from all sides has an “On” button in a portion of its stillimage. Clicking the “ON” button turns on the Virtual Reality withautomated rotation as well as mouse driven rotation features. The “ON”button can be replaced by “VR” or any other form that representingturning on “Virtual Reality.” Detailed information for each monitoredobject can be called individually by clicking on the “Detail” button, orselectively and collectively by clicking the “select” boxes, andsubmitting requests to the server after completing the selectionprocess. The object positioning in the array can be sorted with variouscriteria at user request or default setting. The “alert” can also beprogrammed, for example, to surround “End Time” box with small blinkingstars, or any other attention causing signal, to signal the end of“open” auction within 30 minutes (or an hour), and blinking red starsfor “My bid” button when “my bid” is out bid.

FIG. 4D shows selection of objects monitored in screen FIG. 4C forviewing detailed information and access bidding apparatus collectively,would bring this screen after submitting the selection. In this example,The Egli Ucelli landscape painting, the Jaguar S-series, and the Algarverug axe selected.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the “Live” Auction Format of the PresentInvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel methods and apparatus forconducting, presenting, monitoring, and tracking auctions on-line, forpure Internet auctions, and for real-time linking to physical auctions.The “current” auction objects are presented in moving graphical arraysthat can be sorted by rows or columns, and moved bi-directionally toshow more items than the computer screen size can accommodate, orstopped to select individual items to obtain further information, or tobe monitored and tracked. The “up coming” objects that are soon to be“open” for bidding are shown on a separate strip on the screen. Thestrip and the sorted rows or columns can be commanded to “cycle” ontothe screen continually to display objects beyond the screen. The movingstrip can also be activated to step in both directions, and stopped fordetailed view or selection for monitoring, tracking, or to obtainfurther information. The displaying and selection method and apparatuscan also be used for displaying catalogs and other e-commerce channelsand services.

Selected objects from different categories, or even different sites canbe monitored and tracked on the same screen.

Self-rotating, automated Virtual Reality is used to displaythree-dimensional objects. Split screen allows video broadcasting,narrow casting or streaming of “live auction” events, or fashion catwalkevents alongside detailed images of auctioned objects, theirdescriptions, and the bidding entry form, as well as the running stripcataloguing the upcoming lots/items for auction or catwalk.

The methods and apparatus disclosed in this application can also be usein other types of on-line object and catalogue displays and otherE-commerce channels, mechanisms, and services in addition to the auctionformat.

The present invention presents objects presently open for auction ineach category on a graphical array, with the “up coming auctions”running on a margin strip. A time stamp signifies the time theinformation is loaded to the computer at its latestsynchronization/up-date. The array can be sorted by user specified ordefault criteria in columns or rows. Command buttons providing optionsallowing viewers to start, or stop the cycling, use the scroll button toscroll up or down, or left or right, to see more items. Thebidder/viewer selects interested objects from the array of either thesame category, or from different categories, or even from differentsites, and/or the interested “upcoming” objects from the margin strip.The “auction wizard” of the current invention fetches the detailedinformation and enlarged graphics of the selected items from the sitedatabases, and composes a personalized auction monitor screen for thebidder/viewer. The screen is automatically updated with new status, atuser programmable intervals. If the bidder/viewer's computer isdisconnected from the server, the synchronization occurs automaticallyupon reconnection.

Differentiated level of selections can be made, and the arraypresentation can be sorted by category, or with other criteria ofdifferentiation. “Alert” is programmed to user selectable criteria, suchas closing time, outbid, etc. Default setting can be provided, forexample, to alert closing time in one hour or less, or outbid by others.

Dropping items from monitoring screen can also be programmed tocriteria, such as highest bid going beyond a certain price, orsuccessful final bid of another similar item, etc. Monitoring isautomatically dropped when closing is over, and status sent to “closedauction report” folder.

Automated 3D Virtual Reality presentation is used to displaythree-dimensional objects, such as sculptures, cars, lamps, orfurniture, revolving on the screen automatically. Buttons are providedto the VR presentation for viewer to elect using the mouse to rotate theobject, or to resume the automated rotation. A “VR,” button is providedon still images of three-dimensional objects for activating VirtualReality presentation upon clicking.

“Split Screen” accommodates broadcasting, narrow casting, and streamingvideo for viewing the live auction events, alongside the web images, VRor 3D presentations of the object, detailed textual descriptions, andthe online “bidding” mechanism, for linking “live auction” sessions tothe on-line auction network.

An example of an On-Line Auction presentation implemented with thecurrent invention is illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 4A shows “search,” or“category” browsing results, and the “featured” items in a graphicalarray, with multiple-select capabilities. The “upcoming” auctions areannounced in a cycling or stationary (scrolled to view) margin-strip atthe right side. The “present” auctions are presented in rows, and sortedin rows according to category criteria. A set of command buttons areplaced at the left margin of each row to enable each row of the array toadvance to the left, or back to the right by pressing the mouse buttonon the arrows, or to continually move for showing more items beyond thescreen by clicking on the “GO” button, or stop at command by clicking onthe “STOP” button. The “Other” button allows the viewer to select toview items from other categorization. The “upcoming” column on the righthas similar functions. The movement for the column is up-down movementinstead of the left-right for the rows of “present auctions.”

In this particular presentation example, we have chosen 3 categories andthe “featured.” items for the rows. Other criteria can be used, such asdisplaying subcategory items from the same category, for example, sportscars of different manufacturer, or displaying same category itemssorting by ending time, etc.

Each item on the array is selectable. The viewer can select as manyitems from the array as desired for monitoring, for detailedinformation, or for bidding. When the selection process is completed,the viewer “submits” the selection by clicking the mouse button on the“Submit” button located at the bottom of the screen.

FIG. 4B shows the FIG. 4A screen at some later time. Due to exercisingthe moving functions, some items have changed positions on the array,some items have left the screen, and some items not shown in 4A appearon the screen.

FIG. 4C: Displays the viewer-selected items from 4A and 4B on amonitoring screen. The screen is automatically tracked/updated bysynchronizing with the server data at user programmed or defaultintervals. Three-dimensional object that should be seen from all sideshas an “On” button in a portion of its still image. Clicking the “ON”button turns on the Virtual Reality with automated rotation as well asmouse driven rotation features. The “ON” button can be replaced by “VR”or any other form that representing turning on “Virtual Reality.”Detailed information for each monitored object can be calledindividually by clicking on the “Detailed” button, or selectively andcollectively by clicking the “select” boxes, and submitting requests tothe server after completing the selection process. The objectpositioning in the array can be sorted with various criteria at userrequest or default setting. The “alert” can also be programmed, forexample, to surround “End Time” box with small blinking stars, or anyother attention causing signal, to signal the end of “open” auctionwithin 30 minutes (or an hour), and blinking red stars for “My bid”button when “my bid” is out bid.

Selecting objects monitored in screen 4C for viewing further detailedinformation and access-bidding apparatus collectively would bring thescreen shown in FIG. 4D after submitting the selection. In this example,The Egli Ucelli landscape painting, the jaguar S-series, and the Algarverug are selected. The jaguar has Virtual Reality presentation, activatedby clicking on the “ON” button. The column in the middle are textualdescriptions for the items, and the Auction bids column to the right iswhere the auction status is presented, updated, and where bids can beentered. The membership ID number only has to be entered once. Thescroll bars indicates there is more information in the box than what isshown. When the cursor is moved into the frame, where only partialinformation is shown, the full frame would pop-up.

FIG. 5: Shows an example of the “Live” Auction Format of the PresentInvention. The 2 boxes at left are real-time, live streaming,broadcasting, or narrowcasting of live scenes at the physical auctions.The upper portion of the second column from the left displays eitherstill image of a 2-D object, or still image of a 3-D object, withVirtual Reality option upon clicking on the still image. The upperportion of the 3rd column includes bidding screen and descriptionscreen. The lower portion displays the next item to be auctioned, andthe right column displays the upcoming objects after the next auction intheir time order. Bringing the cursor onto an image, the briefdescription is shown in a floating box. Clicking on the image bringsdetailed descriptions.

The present invention is implemented using software which can be writtenin many programming languages, or implemented with many web-pagegeneration tools. The present invention can be used on a global or localcomputer network, on a personal computer, on viewable storage media suchas a CD ROM, on a wireless telephone, on a wireless personal assistantsuch as a Palm Pilot®, or on any type of wired or wireless device thatenables digitally stored information to be viewed on a display device.Also, information displayed and viewed using the present invention canbe printed, stored to other storage medium, and electronically mailed tothird parties.

Numerous modifications to and alternative embodiments of the presentinvention will be apparent to those skilled to the art in view of theforegoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construedas illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled inthe art the best node of carrying out the invention. Details of thestructure may be varied substantially without departing from the spiritof the invention and the exclusive use of all modifications which comewithin the scope of the appended claims is reserved.

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying digital information,comprising: in a computer with a processor and memory, performing thefollowing: displaying on a display device, a two dimensional array ofdigital information elements; enabling a user to select one of thedigital information elements; and in response to the selection,displaying on the display device additional information about the itemrepresented by the selected digital information element, wherein theadditional information includes at least one of: a link to buy and alink to bid on the item represented by the selected digital informationelement.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: scrolling on thedisplay device at least a subset of the arrayed digital informationelements without user interaction.
 3. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: monitoring and periodically updating on the display deviceat least a subset of the arrayed digital information elements withoutuser interaction.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the user toselect comprises: enabling a user to click or mouse-over the digitalinformation element.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:enabling a user to select multiple of the digital information elements;submitting the multiple selections to retrieve additional informationabout the selected elements; and displaying the retrieved additionalinformation about the multiple selected elements simultaneously on thedisplay device.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the retrievedinformation is stored in a computer memory file for later retrieval. 7.The method of claim 1, wherein the digital information elements areselected from the group consisting of: thumbnails, photographs, symbols,and video.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional informationabout the items represented by the selected digital information elementsis stored in computer memory, monitored, updated, and available forseparate or later access.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:displaying within the array a plurality of subsections, each with arespective plurality of second digital information elements; andscrolling within at least one of the subsections the respectiveplurality of second digital information elements without user action.10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: scrolling the pluralityof subsections independently from one another.
 11. The method of claim9, wherein at least one of the subsections is selected from the groupconsisting of: a row, a column, a matrix, and an array.
 12. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: displaying within the array a pluralityof subsections, each with a respective plurality of second digitalinformation elements, wherein the plurality of second digitalinformation elements within at least one subsection represents itemsthat belong to a common category.
 13. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: displaying digital information elements from a plurality ofindependent sources.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the independentsources include at least two separate website sources.
 15. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising: receiving a specified category from auser; and displaying a particular subsection wherein the plurality ofsecond digital information elements within the particular subsectionbelong to the user specified category.
 16. The method of claim 1,further comprising: receiving digital information elements specified bya user; and displaying at least some of the user specified digitalinformation elements in the array of digital information elements. 17.The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving sorting criteriafrom a user; sorting the digital information elements based on the userspecified sorting criteria; and displaying the sorted digitalinformation elements.
 18. The method of claim 2, further comprising:receiving a user control command regarding the movement of the digitalinformation elements; and moving the digital information elementsaccording to the user control command.
 19. The method of claim 18,wherein the user control command is selected from the group consistingof: controlling scrolling speed, controlling scrolling direction,stopping scrolling, and restarting scrolling.
 20. The method of claim 2,further comprising: displaying a plurality of icons for controllingmovement of the digital information elements.
 21. The method of claim20, further including activating one of the plurality of icons toperform at least one of: scrolling the digital information elements at aconstant speed; varying a speed of the digital information elements;stopping scrolling of the digital information elements; restartingscrolling of the digital information elements after stopping the digitalinformation elements; and changing a scrolling direction of the digitalinformation elements.
 22. The method of claim 2, further comprising:scrolling the digital information elements horizontally or vertically.23. A computer-implemented method for displaying digital informationelements, comprising: in a computer with a processor and memory,performing the following: displaying, on a display device, a first arrayincluding a plurality of first digital information elements representingitems available for selection; receiving a selection of a plurality offirst digital information elements; and displaying, in a second array,second digital information elements corresponding to the selected firstdigital information elements.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein thesecond array includes static and dynamic detailed information regardingthe selected items represented by the first digital information elementsselected.
 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising: periodicallymonitoring and updating status of dynamic detailed information regardingthe selected items represented by the first digital informationelements; and displaying the updated status of the selected items in thesecond array.
 26. The method of claim 23, further comprising: removingfrom the second array, in response to an occurrence of at least one of aplurality of user-programmed criteria, a selected digital informationelement.
 27. The method of claim 1, further comprising: removing fromthe array, in response to an occurrence of at least one of a pluralityof user-programmed criteria, a selected digital information element. 28.The method of claim 27, wherein the pre-determined criteria includes atleast one of: a change in price beyond a pre-determined limit andexpiration of a time duration preset for an item represented by aselected digital information element.
 29. The method of claim 27,further comprising: storing the removed digital information element in aretrievable location; receiving a selection of the removed digitalinformation element; and displaying the removed digital informationelement in a separate display area from the array of digital informationelement.
 30. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving anactivation command for a first digital information element; anddisplaying at least one of a three-dimensional view and detailedinformation associated with an item represented by the first digitalinformation element.
 31. The method of claim 1, further comprising:displaying in a first display area separate from the array of digitalinformation elements a particular digital information elementrepresenting an item not currently available on-line but that willbecome available at a future time.
 32. The method of claim 31, furthercomprising: independently scrolling a plurality of the particulardigital information elements in the first display area.
 33. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: displaying simultaneously with the arraya video related to an item represented by a first digital informationelement.
 34. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving aselection of an item represented by a digital information element, andincluding issuing an alert regarding the selected item, in response toat least one of a plurality of pre-determined criteria.
 35. The methodof claim 34, wherein the plurality of pre-determined criteria includesat least one of: availability, target price, and time for which theselected item remains available.
 36. The method of claim 1, wherein atleast one digital information element represents an item available foron-line bidding by users.
 37. The method of claim 36, furthercomprising: receiving a selection of a digital information elementrepresenting an item available for on-line bidding, and displaying a bidreceived subsequent to the selection.
 38. The method of claim 1, whereinscrolling includes at least one digital information element temporarilydisappearing from the display device.
 39. The method of claim 1, whereinthe digital information elements are all of a substantially similarsize.
 40. A system for displaying digital information, comprising: oneor more processors; memory; and one or more programs stored in thememory, the one or more programs comprising instructions to: display ona display device, a two dimensional array of digital informationelements; enable a user to select at least one of the digitalinformation elements; and in response to the selection, display on thedisplay device additional information about the item represented by theselected digital information element, wherein the additional informationincludes at least one of: a link to buy and a link to bid on the itemrepresented by the selected digital information element.
 41. The systemof claim 40, further comprising instructions to: enable the user toselect multiple of the digital information elements; submit the multipleselections to retrieve additional information about the selectedelements; and display the retrieved additional information about themultiple selected elements simultaneously on the display device.
 42. Acomputer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configuredfor execution by a computer, the one or more programs comprisinginstructions to: display on a display device, a two dimensional array ofdigital information elements; enable a user to select at least one ofthe digital information elements; and in response to the selection,display on the display device additional information about the itemsrepresented by the selected digital information elements, wherein theadditional information includes at least one of: a link to buy and alink to bid on the item represented by the selected digital informationelement.
 43. The computer readable storage medium of claim 42, furthercomprising instructions to: enable the user to select multiple of thedigital information elements; submit the multiple selections to retrieveadditional information about the selected elements; and display theretrieved additional information about the multiple selected elementssimultaneously on the display device.
 44. A system for displayingdigital information, comprising: one or more processors; memory; and oneor more programs stored in the memory, the one or more programscomprising instructions to: display, on a display device, a first arrayincluding a plurality of first digital information elements representingitems available for selection; receive a selection of a plurality offirst digital information elements; and display, in a second array, oneor more second digital information elements corresponding to theselected first digital information elements.
 45. The system of claim 44,wherein the second array includes static and dynamic detailedinformation regarding the selected items represented by the firstdigital information elements selected.
 46. The system of claim 45,further comprising instructions to: periodically monitor and updatestatus of dynamic detailed information regarding the selected itemsrepresented by the first digital information elements; and display theupdated status of the selected items in the second array.
 47. A computerreadable storage medium storing one or more programs configured forexecution by a computer, the one or more programs comprisinginstructions to: display, on a display device, a first array including aplurality of first digital information elements representing itemsavailable for selection; receive a selection of a plurality of firstdigital information elements; and display, in a second array, one ormore second digital information elements corresponding to the selectedfirst digital information elements.
 48. The computer readable storagemedium of claim 47, wherein the second array includes static and dynamicdetailed information regarding the selected items represented by thefirst digital information elements selected.
 49. The system of claim 48,further comprising instructions to: periodically monitor and update,status of dynamic detailed information regarding the selected itemsrepresented by the first digital information elements; and display theupdated status of the selected items in the second array.